Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-16T15:25:58.256Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The role of stressful events in the development of behavioural and emotional problems from early childhood to late adolescence

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 January 2010

M. Timmermans ,
P. A. C. van Lier  and
H. M. Koot
M. Timmermans*
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
P. A. C. van Lier*
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
H. M. Koot
Affiliation:
Department of Developmental Psychology, VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: P. A. C. van Lier, Department of Developmental Psychology, VU University, Van der Boechorststraat 1, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (Email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background

There is growing evidence on the importance of experiences of stressful events in the development of psychopathology. This study aimed to investigate the role of stressful events in the continuity of internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as the cross-influence of these problems from early childhood to late adolescence.

Method

Data came from a general population sample of 396 children followed from the ages of 3 to 18 years. Parent-ratings of internalizing and externalizing problems at ages 3, 5, 10 and 18 years were used. Parents also reported on the presence of stressful events between the ages of 3 and 5 years, and 5 and 10 years. Adolescent reports on stressful events over the ages of 10–18 years were used. Structural equation models were used to disentangle/analyse the role of stressful events in the development of internalizing and externalizing problems.

Results

From the age of 3 years onwards externalizing symptoms predicted experiences of stressful events. In turn, these experiences predicted later externalizing problems. Stressful events also explained part of the continuity of internalizing problems from the age of 10 years onwards, but not during childhood. From childhood onwards, cross-influences from externalizing problems to subsequent internalizing problems were found to run through stressful events. Only in adolescence cross-influences from internalizing problems to externalizing problems were found, again via stressful events.

Conclusions

From childhood onwards to late adolescence, stressful events play a significant role in both the continuity and the co-occurrence of externalizing and internalizing problems. Theoretical and methodological implications of these findings are discussed.

Keywords

Developmentexternalizing/internalizing problemsstressful events
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 10 , October 2010 , pp. 1659 - 1668
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Achenbach, TM (1991). Integrative Guide for the 1991 CBCL/4-18, YSR and TRF Profiles. University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry: Burlington, VT.Google Scholar
Achenbach, TM (1992). Manual for the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3 and 1992 Profile. University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry: Burlington, VT.Google Scholar
Achenbach, TM, Rescorla, LA (2001). Manual for the ASEBA School-age Forms & Profiles. University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth, & Families: Burlington, VT.Google Scholar
Angold, A, Costello, EJ (1993). Depressive comorbidity in children and adolescents – empirical, theoretical, and methodological issues. American Journal of Psychiatry 150, 1779–1791.Google ScholarPubMed
Arnett, JJ (1999). Adolescent storm and stress, reconsidered. American Psychologist 54, 317–326.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berden, GF, Althaus, M, Verhulst, FC (1990). Major life events and changes in the behavioural functioning of children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 31, 949–959.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beyers, JM, Loeber, R (2003). Untangling developmental relations between depressed mood and delinquency in male adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 31, 247–266.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bongers, IL, Koot, HM, van der Ende, J, Verhulst, FC (2003). The normative development of child and adolescent problem behavior. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 112, 179–192.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Browne, MW, Cudeck, R (1992). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. Sociological Methods and Research 21, 230–258.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capaldi, DM (1991). Co-occurrence of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in early adolescent boys: I. Familial factors and general adjustment at Grade 6. Development and Psychopathology 3, 277–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capaldi, DM (1992). Co-occurrence of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in early adolescent boys: II. A 2-year follow-up at Grade 8. Development and Psychopathology 4, 125–144.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capaldi, DM, Stoolmiller, M (1999). Co-occurrence of conduct problems and depressive symptoms in early adolescent boys: III. Prediction to young-adult adjustment. Development and Psychopathology 11, 59–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Caron, C, Rutter, M (1991). Comorbidity in child psychology: concepts, issues and research strategies. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 32, 1063–1080.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ensel, WM, Peek, MK, Lin, N, Lai, G (1996). Stress in the life course: a life history approach. Journal of Aging and Health 8, 389–416.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farrington, DP (1986). Age and crime. Crime and Justice – A Review of Research 7, 189–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ge, XJ, Conger, RD, Elder, GH (2001). Pubertal transition, stressful life events, and the emergence of gender differences in adolescent depressive symptoms. Developmental Psychology 37, 404–417.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilliom, M, Shaw, DS (2004). Codevelopment of externalizing and internalizing problems in early childhood. Development and Psychopathology 16, 313–333.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gore, S, Aseltine, RH, Colton, ME (1992). Social structure, life stress and depressive symptoms in a high school-aged population. Journal of Health and Social Behavior 33, 97–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grant, KE, Compas, BE, Thurm, AE, McMahon, SD, Gipson, PY (2004). Stressors and child and adolescent psychopathology: measurement issues and prospective effects. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology 33, 412–425.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hu, L, Bentler, PM (1995). Evaluating model fit. In Structural Equation Modeling: Concepts, Issues and Applications (ed. Hoyle, R. H.). Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA.Google Scholar
Jaffee, S, Caspi, A, Moffitt, TE, Belsky, J, Silva, P (2001). Why are children born to teen mothers at risk for adverse outcomes in young adulthood? Results from a 20-year longitudinal study. Development and Psychopathology 13, 377–397.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jöreskog, KG (1970). A general method for analysis of covariance structures. Biometrika 57, 239–251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koot, HM, Verhulst, FC (1991). Prevalence of problem behaviour in Dutch children aged 2–3. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 367, 1–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keenan, K, Loeber, R, Green, S (1999). Conduct disorder in girls: a review of the literature. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review 2, 3–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kim, KJ, Conger, RD, Elder, GH, Lorenz, FO (2003). Reciprocal influences between stressful life events and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Child Development 74, 127–143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lahey, BB, Loeber, R, Burke, J, Rathouz, PJ, McBurnett, K (2002). Waxing and waning in concert: dynamic comorbidity of conduct disorder with other disruptive and emotional problems over 7 years among clinic-referred boys. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 111, 556–567.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lavigne, JV, Cicchetti, C, Gibbons, RD, Binns, HJ, Larsen, L, DeVito, C (2001). Oppositional defiant disorder with onset in preschool years: longitudinal stability and pathways to other disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 40, 1393–1400.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MacKinnon, DP, Lockwood, CM, Hoffman, JM, West, SG, Sheets, V (2002). A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychological Methods 7, 83–104.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mesman, J, Bongers, IL, Koot, HM (2001). Preschool developmental pathways to preadolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 42, 679–689.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mesman, J, Koot, HM (2000). Common and specific correlates of preadolescent internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. Journal of Abnormal Psychology 109, 428–437.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Moffitt, TE (1993). Adolescence-limited and life-course-persistent antisocial-behavior – a developmental taxonomy. Psychological Review 100, 674–701.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morales, JR, Guerra, NG (2006). Effects of multiple context and cumulative stress on urban children's adjustment in elementary school. Child Development 77, 907–923.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muthén, LK, Muthén, BO (1998–2007). Mplus User's Guide, 4th ed. Muthén & Muthén: Los Angeles, CA.Google Scholar
Patterson, G, Reid, MJ, Dishion, TJ (1992). Antisocial Boys. Castalia Publications: Eugene, OR.Google Scholar
Patton, GC, Coffey, C, Posterino, M, Carlin, JB, Bowes, G (2003). Life events and early onset depression: cause or consequence? Psychological Medicine 33, 1203–1210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rowe, R, Maughan, B, Eley, TC (2006). Links between antisocial behavior and depressed mood: the role of life events and attributional style. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 34, 293–302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sandler, IN, Tein, JY, West, SG (1994). Coping, stress, and the psychological symptoms of children of divorce: a cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Child Development 65, 1744–1763.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Steinberg, L, Avenevoli, S (2000). The role of context in the development of psychopathology: a conceptual framework and some speculative propositions. Child Development 71, 66–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Swearingen, EM, Cohen, LH (1985). Life events and psychological distress – a prospective study of young adolescents. Developmental Psychology 21, 1045–1054.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Timmermans, M, van Lier, PA, Koot, HM (2008). Which forms of child/adolescent externalizing behaviors account for late adolescent risky sexual behavior and substance use? Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 49, 386–394.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wiesner, M, Kim, HK (2006). Co-occurring delinquency and depressive symptoms of adolescent boys and girls: a dual trajectory modeling approach. Developmental Psychology 42, 1220–1235.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williamson, DE, Birmaher, B, Anderson, BP, Alshabbout, M, Ryan, ND (1995). Stressful life events in depressed adolescents – the role of dependent events during the depressive episode. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 34, 591–598.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williamson, DE, Birmaher, B, Ryan, ND, Shiffrin, TP, Lusky, JA, Protopapa, J, Dahl, RE, Brent, DA (2003). The stressful life events schedule for children and adolescents: development and validation. Psychiatry Research 119, 225–241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed